Thanks you understanding, y'all. Looks like it's time for another installation. Sirfire, should I change your name to Jubilee?

Day Five Part Two (sorry I messed up the days)

Arithmancy sat down just as Indigo Feather stood up. "We need to do something." Nods. "We need to look for this murderer. Investigate." general agreement. 

"What are we going to investigate?" Sky asked. "It's not like the murderer left a crumb trail for us to follow." Some of the younger people agreed. 

"Well, there are lots of things to investigate. We can reveiw what we know about earlier murders, we can search rooms, lots of things," Indigo answered, a little annoyed. 

"Ok," Pygmy Owl said. "Let's start there. We can search the rooms." So they did. Dividing up into teams, the students searched all the occupied dorms. Pygmy Owl, Arithmancy, and Sky found a notebook under Raining Rainbows pillow, which proved to be full of doodles featuring hearts and the name Alex. Sirfire, Sparkle Moon, and Hummingbird found a sheet of paper on Indigo's bedside table which read  Barnswallow-unknown  Joel-unknown Gecko-alive? Luminescense-stabbing, which they decided must be notes she had made trying to make sense of everything.

Everyone was unsuccessful. They had regathered in the bird room and were disscussing what to do next, when Sparkle Moon had an idea. "We haven't checked the empty rooms. There are lots of unfilled dormitories."

"Great idea, Sparkle Moon!" Hummingbird cried. "Let's go do that now!" 

"You can if you wish, but I'm going to bed," Sirfire yawned. "you do know it's 3a.m., right?" 

"Yes. I do know it. And the sooner we find the murderer the sooner you can sleep in saftey. Come on, let's go," Sparkle replied. 

"Actually, she has a good point," Arithmancy protested. "We don't have school today, it's Saturday, remember?No school so we can search all we want when there's day light. We need sleep." She nodded to Pygmy Owl, sprawled on one of the beds.

In the end, Sparkle Moon gave in. She knew everyone was tired, and if she went alone, she would be in danger. In fact, she was glad to climb into bed and fall inot deep sleep.

Day Five Part Two

Indigo Feather woke up with a start. Her bedroom was filled with a golden light coming from the eastern facing window. The other bed was empty. Then she heard it. The tapping. That must have woken her. Groggily, she walked to the door. Pulling it open, she saw Pygmy Owl standing outside. A look of relief replaced a worried expression. "You're alright?" She questioned. Indigo nodded, unsure of Pygmy's reason for waking her. Luckily, It was explained.

"When you didn't come down to breakfast, we got worried, so I came up to check on you. We weren't sure if..." She trailed off, but there was no doubt in Indigo Feather's mind what they had thought. "Well, you might as well come down to breakfast. Sky saved some eggs for you, and a waffle." 

When the two reached the dining hall, it was deserted ecxept for the cook, who was cleaning up and grumbling to herself about careless children. Indigo gulped down her breakfast with 'great relish', and returned to her room to dress. It felt good to where something other than a polo shirt and kaki pants uniform. She walked outside into the sunny morning. A few girls were in the orchard, picking the sweet, juicy apples. Others were in the stable, feeding the chestnut horses and the little gray pony.

She herself walked over to the pond to see if she could spot a dolphin. She came to the peir and saw a figure already sitting there, alone. Coming closer, she saw that it was Sirfire. The younger girl had tears running down her cheeks, and her head rested on her knees. Indigo was unsure wheather she should leave or not, but she decided to sit down and talk to Sir. 

"Are you ok, Sir?" Indigo asked. Sir nodded. "Look, if there's anything bothering you, I'm here to talk." Indigo wrapped an arm around the other, hoping to make her feel better. 

"Look, just because I'm younger than you dosen't mean you can treat me like a baby," Sir replied, pushing away. "I'm not your charity project." She rose, and Indigo got up too. 

"Sir, don't-" Indigo started.

"Please. Just leave me alone. I don't need you to be my mother." Sir stalked off. 

Indigo sat back down, almost feeling like having a cry herself. She had tried to make friends, but everyone was suspicious of her. She had tried to help Sirfire, but she had only burned a fragile bridge. Just then, she heard a board creak. Had Sir come back? To apoligize? To explain? "Sir, I'm sorry I-" Indigo turned to face the other and was met by another person. 

"Have you and Sir had a fight?" she asked. Indigo nodded. She poured out her heart to the other student, confiding how she felt as though everyone suspected her, how they wouldn't trust her no matter what she tried to gaain their approval.

"Don't worry," the other assured her. "No one will suspect you now." The other drew a small revolver out of her pocket and pointed it directly at Indigo. 

"Wait. You- you're the... the... murderer?"Indigo Feather stumbled over the words. 

"No. I'm not a murderer. I'm a pest elimanator. Now, you're smart. You've got that slyness to you that some others just don't have, and you've got the will to do it. Unlike Gecko and Barnswallow. Now I'm giving you the choice: power and life, or salvery and death. Chose carefully." 

Indigo reached out and shook the others hand. The murderer put the gun away and told Indigo to follow her. 

Well, hope you liked this one. sorry I can't do more, i've got to eat lunch. 

It appears that another installation is appropriate.

Day Five Part Three

Gecko woke in the dark room. For a moment, she forgot where she was. But a glance about the chamber reminded her. She looked about for a way to escape. Appearantly, the murderer had locked the door, and there was no window. A dim light shone from a torch that had burned very low and would soon go out.

Her limbs were free, but that was of no use. How can I get out? She asked herself. If she didn't, the murderer would have her perform the ceremony. Once the ceremony had been completed, there would be no way to stop it. 

Gecko had known for quite some time that she was the decsendant of a warlock, a good one. That explained why the murderer wanted her alive. But why didn't she do the ceremony before? There could be one explaination: the Stone was not yet in her possesion. It was most likely hidden somewhere near the school. 

Her contemplations were interrupted by the sudden opening of the stone door. A teacher stood in the door, a threatening look on his face, and Gecko knew at once that the was on the side of the murderer. He had probably recruited her. 

The intruder stalked toward her and ordered her to get up and start walking. Gecko stayed put, and the instructor pulled out the blade that had ended Luminesence and motioned to the door. She obeyed this time, because the adult had the knife at her neck. She was led toward two others, shorter than the teacher. The murderer, no surprize there, and ...Indigo Feather.

The murderer bow to the adult, and Indigo followed suite. The teacher released Gecko and she breathed a sigh of relief. She noticed that the door was open. But with three against one, two blocking her way, she wasn't fast enough, she decided. 

The adult left, telling the murderer, "Give her the instructions," as he left. The younger girl nodded and turned back to her prisoner. 

"You may return to the school," she paused, and Gecko's heart jumped. "On one condition." The way she said the word was like silk. "You are decsended from a warlock, as you know. And often, your kind have-" 

"How did you know?" Gecko was alarmed.

"Oh, it's really quite easy to tell. You have such strong magic. And your kind are often drawn to magic. As are mine. So, you may return to the school. To do our work, or for your own funeral, if you resist. Understood?" The girl got right in Gecko's face, imposing the question. Gecko nodded feebly. 

"Once you locate the magic, you shall report it to me," she went on. "If you breathe a word, of this, well, use your imagination. Say you were lost in the woods when they ask you. You may go now, I must prepare." 

Indigo accompanied Gecko outside. When they where safely away, Gecko asked, "Why did you join them, Indigo?" 

"It was a life or death situation, Gecko. Do you know what knd of power you could have? She's told me everything. Here we are," Indigo said as they reached the main path. "No go!" She shoved the older girl forward, and ran away. Gecko, suddenly feeling very week from hunger, stumbled out of the forest.

Seeing Sifire walking close, she approached her. Sir looked up, and a look of shock replaced the previous expresion of sadness and pain. "G-gecko, w-what, where were you?" A tear still made its way down her face. 

"I guess I got lost," Gecko made a noncommital reply, trying to avoid lying. "Do you have any food?" 

"A-actually, we w-were just going in for lunch," Sir stuttered, still shocked.

The rest of the day, Gecko spent recooperating. She noticed that Indigo Feather was trailing her, keeping an eye on her for the others, she surmissed as she lay in bed trying to sleep, which was very hard after such an experience.

Dear Students, 

I regret to inform you that tomorrow, I will not be posting another installment as I have resumed my schooling and am very busy. I will try to do it as soon as I can, which may be Saturday.

Regretfully yours,

The Headmistress. 

Well, looks like it's not Saturday after all! 

Day Six Part One

The murderer was worried. She had too many people in her circle. If she failed because of them, her master would be angry. And after five years with him, she knew angering him would only make things worse. Much worse.

Something needs to be done about Indigo, she thought. Why didn't I just shoot her? But no, I had to talk... Yes, Indigo Feather would have to go. As soon as she had served her purpose, which would be very soon. Very soon indeed. The clock struck 7 and the murderer got quickly back in bed. As her roommate woke up and looked around, she fained a yawn and rubbed her eyes. 

Gecko was wakenning at that moment. At first, she felt only the good, fuzzy emotion of being well rested. But in a few short moments the happenings of the day before were returned to her memory. As she pulled on her clothes ad tugged a comb through her hair, she thought about what the murderer had said. She had felt something. Especially.... could it be... was the Headmistress hidding the stone? A million thoughts filled Gecko's head. She knew now what to do.

Okeee. So. I've been either really busy or really tired lately. I'll try to post tommorrow. Sorry this has to be pushed out there, I just haven't been online that much except for school.